Press bodies criticise Ministry action

The apex body of editors of news channels in India has expressed its dismay over the latest notices reportedly issued to three channels – ABP News, Aajtak and NDTV – on the questionable pretext that their coverage pertaining to Yakub Memon’s death sentence amounted to contempt of the institution of the President as also the judiciary.

MS SONIA SINGH, the editorial director of NDTV.

Officials were forced to rescind the ban in the face of a furious backlash, but the episode fuelled a growing perception that the government is quietly seeking greater control over what its citizens read or watch. The government took issue withthe station’s 20-minute programme, “Truth versus Hype: The Riddle of Yakub Memon“, which the network broadcast on August 1. “We urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and immediately withdraw the notices which had been issued in the context of Yakub’s hanging“, the statement further said. All five including Rohatgi, who argued for the government for Memon’s execution, earlier enjoyed “Y” category security.

Arguing that news coverage can’t be limited to official briefings, the BEA said there were enough self-regulatory guidelines regarding the coverage of terror incidents.

Shakeel, who has avoided arrest, called numerous Indian news organizations to angrily denounce Memon’s execution. “This is not justice; this is vengeance”, he told Aaj Tak.

According to a report published on Friday in a leading daily, The Economic Times, Tiger Memon, the man exclusively responsible for the Mumbai carnage, talked to his family members in Mumbai and pledged to avenge his younger brother Yakub’s execution by the Government of India. “We have received inputs that other than threat to life of the three judges, there is also danger for Justice Dave”, a senior government official said on condition of anonymity. NDTV 24×7 had aired an interview of Yakub Memon’s lawyer who spoke about how many countries have done away with the death penalty. “They will laugh at you”.

While the association made it clear that it did not “believe in” live visual coverage of terror incidents, it also said that media coverage could not be restricted to official briefings. “I salute the Supreme Court for having at least afforded to him even the last opportunity at 3 a.m.”, he said.